Józef Gawlina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Titular bishop of Mariamme (1933–1947)
by Adolf Bertram
by August Hlond
Józef Gawlina | |
|---|---|
| Titular archbishop of Madytus | |
 | |
| Previous posts | Bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Poland (1933 – 1947) Titular bishop of Mariamme (1933–1947) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 19 June 1921 by Adolf Bertram |
| Consecration | 19 March 1933 by August Hlond |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 November 1892 |
| Died | 21 September 1964 (aged 71) Rome, Italy |
Józef Feliks Gawlina (17 November 1882 – 21 September 1964) was a Roman Catholic bishop and divisional general in the Polish Armed Forces. He was an ordained priest, Doctor of Theology and from 1933, bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Poland.[1] After the Second World War, cardinal August Hlond gave him the brief to provide pastoral care to the Polish diaspora. In the words of Pope John Paul II, Gawlina was a "bishop-nomad". He was raised to the rank of archbishop in 1957. Following his death, the Secretary General of the Second Vatican Council described him as a "real pastor".
Early life and episcopal career
Gawlina was born in Strzybnik to Franciszek and Joanna Gawlina (née Banas). He first received secondary education at a humanities-oriented gymnasium in Raciborz, transferring to a different gymnasium in Rybnik. After obtaining his matura, he enrolled at the University of Wrocław, where he studied theology. His studies were interrupted twice during World War 1; he was first drafted as a medic into the 11th Grenadier Regiment, with whom he was deployed to France in 1915, and later in 1917 was re-enlisted as part of the Sinai and Palestine campaign, during which he was captured in Damascus. After his release in 1919, he returned to Wrocław,[2] obtaining a doctorate in 1921.[3] He was ordained a priest on 19 March 1921 in Wrocław by Adolf Bertram.[4]
Gawlina first served as a parish priest in Dębniki and Tychy. On 7 July 1924, he was appointed by August Hlond to serve as secretary-general for the Catholic League in the Apostolic Administration of Upper Silesia.[4] In 1927, he was moved to Warsaw to found the Catholic News Agency (KAP), which served to counteract anti-Polish and anti-Catholic sentiment in the German press; it began operating from there on 1 April 1927.[5] While directing the KAP, Gawlina underwent further education in journalism,[6] and received a magister degree in moral theology from the University of Warsaw on 28 June 1928.[7] Returning to the now-Diocese of Katowice in 1929, he was appointed as director of the Diocese's Catholic League, as a canon in the Diocese's cathedral chapter,[6] and as the curator for the Polish province of the Sisters of Mary.[4]
On 14 February 1933, Gawlina was appointed as bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Poland and titular bishop of Mariamme by Pope Pius XI; he was consecrated on 19 March 1933 in the Church of St. Barbara in Chorzów by August Hlond.[6][7]
_-_1946-05-16_-_Józef_Gawlina_in_Casarano.jpg)
